Applying to be a school governor - any advice please?

[BrouetteChouette]

Hi everyone.

I've applied to be a school governor. I've got a meeting with the headteacher of a local primary school coming up in a couple of weeks to find out more about the role at the school.

I've looked at the school website in preparation for this. It gives a lot of information about the school as well as its current governors, which has been very helpful.

The reason why I wanted to get involved in school governance is because I'm really interested in education and in making sure that children receive a good standard of education.

To give a bit more context, I actually started a teacher training course last year, but resigned as it wasn't for me (due to many different reasons). I would love to get involved in more voluntary roles in educational settings, and I think that school governance would be a good way to do this.

I'm in my mid-twenties and currently work as a languages tutor - whilst i don't have any sought-after specialist experience to offer the school, I'm confident that I'd be able to cope with the demands of being a school governor in a general role and that I have a lot to offer the school.

I've done a lot of reading into school governance, and have found this helpful. However, I'd be interested in finding out some first-hand accounts from anyone who's been involved in school governance.

I've heard, however, that people's experiences as school governors can vary a lot depending on which school they're placed in.

Could I ask you please about your experiences of being a school governor please (or if you know anyone who has been a school governor?)

Thanks very much! :)

[BubblesBuddy]

I could write quite a book but I am sure you won't have time to read it. Here is my opinion!

We aim to be professional and take our duties seriously. There is a lot of work and it is not just about attending meetings. You must get to know the school and the Governors must build up a picture of what needs to be improved and trust the Head for professional guidance but also challenge the Head.

You must be able to interpret data on the progress of the children and be aware of how good the teaching is, or is not. Governors must work with the school on financial management but Governors are not day to day managers. It is important to oversee the progress of the school's development plan and Governors hold the Head to account by performance management. Governing bodies should also evaluate their own effectiveness.

Governors must visit the school and get to know their particular area of work. This could be pupil premium, literacy, SEND, health and safety, benchmarking etc. There are lots of things Governors are responsible for! You are not teacher helpers or another pair of hands.

You must also take advantage of training. You will need to prepare for an Ofsted inspection and you cannot let the school down by being ill informed and ill equipped to do the job. You are responsible for pay awards and the school premises. You will have a lot to read. My Head's report is often 35 pages long. There are constant changes in education and you have to keep on top of it and how it affects your school. The bottom line is that the children get a great education and make excellent progress. Governors can only do this by working with a fantastic Head.

Hope this helps.